Karriärtjänster (career posts) are government-funded positions designed to make the teaching profession more attractive through clear career steps with salary supplements. There are two levels: first teacher (förstelärare) and senior lecturer (lektor).
First teacher
Appointed by the school provider (the municipality or independent school). Requirements: teaching licence, at least four years of well-documented work, and demonstrated skill in improving instruction. Salary supplement: at least SEK 5,000/month.
Senior lecturer
Requires a licentiate or doctoral degree in addition to a teaching degree. Salary supplement: at least SEK 10,000/month. The senior lecturer combines teaching with research-based development work and contributes to the school's quality improvement.
Funding
Career posts are funded through government grants (the Career Posts Grant). The school provider applies for the grant and decides how many career posts to create. The number varies considerably between municipalities and schools.
Purpose
Career posts were introduced in 2013 to strengthen the attractiveness of the teaching profession, reward skilled teachers, and stimulate pedagogical development. They enable teachers to advance without leaving the classroom.